How did Mike Cubbage impact the Mets organization as a player and coach? A look into the legacy of a World Series winner

The MLB community has lost a long-time member as former player and coach Mike Cubbage passed away this weekend. The 74-year-old died on Saturday after battling cancer for more than a year. Cubbage reportedly passed away at his home in Charlottesville, Virginia.

"We’re saddened to hear of the passing of UVA Baseball Hall of Famer, former big leaguer and Charlottesville legend, Mike Cubbage. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cubbage family" - @UVABaseball

The passing of Mike Cubbage draws an end to his roughly half-century in baseball. A former third baseman, Cubbage made his MLB debut in 1974 with the Texas Rangers, spending over two years with the club before being traded to the Minnesota Twins.

Cubbage enjoyed the best seasons of his playing career with the Twins. Over 555 games with the Twins, the man they called "Cubby" posted a .266 batting average with 29 home runs and 226 RBIs. Before the 1981 season, Cubbage signed with the New York Mets in free agency, a move that would shape his future career after his playing days.

"Mike Cubbage was a baseball lifer. He devoted 50 years to the game. Cubbie, who did everything for the Mets, died last Saturday at age 74 in his Charlottesville, VA home" - @Jay_HorwitzPR

In 1983, Cubbage arguably made his most important career step by becoming a minor league coach in the New York Mets organization. Cubbage started with the Little Falls Mets before joining the Lynchburg Mets and eventually becoming a coach with the Double-A Jackson Mets in 1986, the same year the Mets won the World Series.

Cubbage continued to gain a wealth of experience within the NYM organization. Throughout his time with the franchise, "Cubby" became the manager of the team's Triple-A affiliate before becoming the third base coach for the MLB club. Cubbage even served as the interim manager for the Mets in 1991, posting a 3-4 record.

Mike Cubbage continued to take on roles with various clubs for the next two decades

In 1997, Cubbage took his coaching experience to the Houston Astros, spending several seasons with the club. After his time with Houston, Cubbage joined an up-and-coming Boston Red Sox squad looking to break their iconic World Series drought.

Unfortunately for Cubbage, who was the Red Sox third base coach in the early 2000s, he was no longer with the organization when they finally broke the "Curse of the Bambino" by winning the World Series. Although his tenure with the Red Sox was the final time he coached, he was not done in the MLB.

In the later stages of his career, Mike Cubbage served as a scout for the Tampa Bay Rays and the Washington Nationals. In 2019, Cubbage finally won a World Series with the Nationals. Although Cubbage may not be a household name to casual fans, his impact on the game will never be forgotten.